MICHAEL Slater has denied a newspaper story this weekend which claimed Paul Elliott had been offered the chance to replace him as Valley chairman.

Elliott, who began his playing career at The Valley in the early 1980s, was reportedly being lined up to take over from Slater in the boardroom.

The defender’s playing career came to an end at the age of just 28 in 1992 while with Chelsea but since then he has become a high profile figure in the campaign against racism in football, work which has earned the Lewisham-born star both the MBE and CBE.

Elliott is also a trustee for the Charlton Athletic Community Trust and has always retained strong links with the club.

But although impressed by the former Pisa and Celtic player’s standing in the game, Slater downplayed suggestions he was weighing up the opportunity to become the new chairman in SE7.

Slater said: “While Paul’s fine credentials are there for everyone to see and he is much admired by the directors, he has not been offered any position at the club.

“Whatever the future holds for Paul, the board wishes him well.”

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